Bulls fall on walk-off single off Yates in bottom of ninth

A day after celebrating their International League South Division title, the Durham Bulls saw runner-up Norfolk erase a two-run deficit and win 3-2 on a walk-off two-run single by Zelous Wheeler in the bottom of the ninth inning here Thursday.

Relief pitcher Kirby Yates (3-2), who started the ninth in place of Brandon Gomes at Harbour Park, blew a 2-1 lead and took the loss.

The blown save was Yates’ third of the season.

Yates gave up a leadoff single to Jonathan Schoop and, after striking out Steve Clevenger, surrendered a double to Alex Liddi to put runners on second and third.

Wheeler followed with his game-winning hit to center.

The Bulls (82-51) had grabbed an early 2-0 lead with single runs in the third and fourth innings.

They snapped a scoreless tie in the top of the third on back-to-back one-out doubles by Chris Gimenez and Jesus Flores, Gimenez scoring on Flores’ line drive.

In the fourth, Ryan Robert walked leading off and stole second. He went to third when catcher Chris Snyder’s throw went awry. Vince Belnome’s ground ball out scored Roberts.

Norfolk (70-63) cut the lead to 2-1 in the seventh on back-to-back singles by Henry Urrutia and Jason Pridie off starter Matt Buschmann. Schoop’s ground out advanced the runners and Jeff Beliveau relieved Buschmann.

Clevenger’s sacrifice fly scored Urrutia with the Tides’ first run and Beliveau retired Liddi on a strikeout to end the threat.

The Bulls had a chance to pad the lead in the top of the eighth but Belnome grounded into a force play to strand Kevin Kiermaier at third.

After Beliveau gave up a walk and single to open the bottom of the eighth, recently demoted Tampa Ray Gomes held the Tides scoreless despite giving up a single with two outs.

He got out of the bases-loaded two-out jam by getting Pridie to ground out for the final out.

The Bulls never threatened in the top of the ninth, despite getting a leadoff walk from Shelley Duncan. Winner Jairo Asencio (5-0) got Evan Frey and Flores on strikes and Gimenez on an infield pop-up.

NOTES — The Tides are 12 games back of the Bulls in the already-decided IL-South ... The Bulls J.D. Martin (15-4, 2.84) starts against Norfolk at 7:05 p.m. tonight. ... The Bulls were out-hit 10-4 in Thursday’s loss.